LEGO Train Commercial circa 1991

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Mike Walsh

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX5I4nzuYgk]

Saw this on the WamaLTC mailing list – pretty cool.  The first release of the 9v trains in 1991 were awesome.

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Judging LEGO at the NC State Fair

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Mike Walsh

It is time once again for the annual North Carolina State Fair.  For the past few years (3?, 4?) Joe Meno and I have been judging the LEGO competition.  It is fun to help out and only takes a couple of hours to complete.  Yesterday Joe and I braved the rain and headed over to the Fair.  I’ll post some pictures once the Fair has started, don’t want to spoil any surprises.  A couple of observations:

  1. There were 101 entries this year versus 82 last year.  It seemed like there were more and the numbers confirm it.  There was a 25% increase in entries.
  2. While the total number of entries was up, the number of entries in the North Carolina theme categories was down, particularly in the older (ages 10-18) age group.
  3. There were no K’Nex entries at all this year.  Historically there has always been a few and we’ve tried to judge them objectively.
  4. There were no official LEGO sets entered this year!  We did not have to disqualify anyone this year which is a first since I’ve been judging.  There were a few models that “borrowed” some ideas from official LEGO sets but nothing we had any issues with.
If you are going to the Fair this year, make sure you swing by the Hobbies and Handicrafts building and check out all of the entries.  There is also a small NCLUG exhibit on display as well so check it out too!
Posted in NC State Fair | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

First BrickLink negative feedback

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Mike Walsh

I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.  After 600+ transactions, I picked up my first negative feedback on BrickLink recently.  It isn’t the end of the world but it would have been nice to know there was a problem so I could do something about it.  I’ve made mistakes before and will likely make them again.  It happens.  How a seller handles a mistake is really what matters and I don’t have a lot of respect for a buyer who doesn’t give a seller the opportunity to fix a problem.  If I make a mistake, I do my best to correct it as quickly as possible at no additional cost to the buyer.  I’ve even ordered missing parts from another store and shipped them to a buyer if I didn’t have them myself.

In this particular case the buyer never told me there was a problem, I just noticed it on my feedback page.  I don’t deny that I made a mistake, shame on me for not checking the set again for completeness.  I would like the chance to fix it though.

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NCLUG exhibit at the NC State Fair

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Mike Walsh

NCLUG has been asked to provide a display for the NC State Fair.  The exhibit will be on display in the same location as the LEGO entries.  The LEGO exhibits have historically been located on the north end of the Hobbies and Handicrafts building which is near the NC State Ice Cream shop (which is easily one of the best deals for your dollar at the Fair).

The group is still batting around ideas but it looks like it will be some sort of Halloween themed exhibit.  I am not sure what I am going to do, if anything at this point.  After a pretty quiet summer, I have a lot going on at work right now.  I don’t have any good ideas either.  Hmmm.  Decisions, decisions.

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Judging at 2011 NC State Fair

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Mike Walsh

Joe Meno and I have been asked to judge the LEGO category again at the 2011 North Carolina State Fair.  If you’re interested in competing this year, the State Fair Premium Book is available online.  The LEGO categories fall under Handy Crafts and Hobbies in section EE.  We had suggested they add an adult division but that still hasn’t happened yet.  Maybe in 2012!  We’re looking forward to seeing some excellent entries.  Remember – no kits!  Every year we have to disqualify half a dozen entries because they are official LEGO sets.  Historically there have been fewer entries in the North Carolina theme category so take that into consideration when submitting an entry.  Also, make sure your entry is on a sturdy base!

Posted in NC State Fair | Tagged , | 6 Comments